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A few weeks ago, the second reading at Mass contained these lines from the letter to the Ephesians: "All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ."

Five Sisters of St. Mary of Namur from the diocese attended a conference on human trafficking which took place at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., on July 9 and 10. The conference titled, "Answering Pope Francis' Call: An American Catholic Response to Modern-Day Slavery," was sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities USA.

In 1984, Pope John Paul II called more than 300,000 young people to St. Peter's Square for an international jubilee of youth. There he entrusted to all youth the care of the World Youth Day cross. This cross has traveled the globe, serving as a centerpiece for World Youth Day celebrations in Denver, Manila, Paris, Toronto, Cologne, Madrid, Sydney, Rio, and soon Krakow. The Diocese of Buffalo has mirrored that tradition with its own WYD cross, that is now traveling from parish to parish in preparation for next year's Poland pilgrimage.

"Every Life is Worth Living" has been a consistent theme of Pope Francis and one that has particular urgency today. This year's theme for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Respect Life Program fills us with encouragement and hope and calls us to love, defend and celebrate all human life. It calls us to joyfully follow the example of Christ, to love without limits, and further, to act on that sense of true Christian charity.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - After meeting with Pope Francis earlier this morning Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi confirmed that the Pope met with Kim Davis and her husband as part of a large group invited by the nunciature.

On Oct. 1, a yearly tradition among Catholics in the legal profession continued at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo. Bishop Richard J. Malone presided over the Red Mass, an annual gathering of lawyers, judges, paralegals and others, with a homily tailed to them. The Mass concluded with a speech by Hon. Frank Caruso, a New York State Supreme Court justice and City of Tonawanda native, who recommended to those in attendance that they continue to use a Catholic sense of compassion in their jobs.

EAST AURORA — ­Christ the King Seminary will host its annual Curé of Ars Awards dinner on Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Adam's Mark Hotel and Event Center. This year's event will honor Msgr. Thomas F. Maloney and the permanent diaconate community of the Diocese of Buffalo.

Most people believe that change is good - for someone else. This might be especially true of people in institutions with a reputation for stability. Interesting that the Catholic Church has always changed in response to signs of the times. But significant changes may be felt as a breakdown, before appreciating the breakthrough.

Pope Francis arrived in Philadelphia Saturday for the World Meeting of Families. We decided to catch up with several of our diocesan friends in Philly as we present our day four photo gallery.

The Education for Ministry classes in the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York invite you to attend a very special program to be held at 7PM on Tuesday, October 13, at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 374 Main St., East Aurora. The program is entitled "Encountering Sainthood: A Personal Reflection" and the presenter will be the Rev. Canon William L. Wipfler, Ph.D., D.D. The program will detail Fr. Wipfler's witness to the martyrdom and beatification of Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero.

Chancery bulletin announcements for the week of Sept. 28, 2015.

"We need more priests, we don't want to close any more schools and parishes, and how can we get the young people to get to church?" These are challenges we face as Catholics, but what about our strengths? Bishop Richard Malone asks us to look at the fundamental strength found in the Eucharist, in our parishes, Catholic social services and in us, in a new "Consider This." Watch it below:

Bishop Richard J. Malone will bless animals on the front lawn of his residence, 77 Oakland Place in Buffalo, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, the day before the Feast of St. Francis.

About 100 people skipped Sunday's Buffalo Bills victory over the Miami Dolphins for another kind of community activity: a special telecast of Pope Francis' closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia screened at St. Leo the Great Church in Amherst.

On Sept. 25, Pope Francis gave his first ever Mass in the Big Apple before an audience of 20,000 people in Madison Square Garden. Immediately following the much-anticipated event, three Western New Yorkers who traveled to New York City for the Mass gave their thoughts on the experience, as well as what it meant to them to be able to hear and see the pope during his inaugural trip to the United States.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - In a 47 minute Q&A with journalists on his way back to Rome Pope Francis touched on sensitive topics such as forgiving abusers and conscientious objection, as well as the upcoming synod of bishops and women's ordination.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis told journalists on board his flight to Rome that giving communion to divorced and remarried Catholics is a "simplistic" solution to the issue, and stressed that there are also other problems that need to be discussed.

Amtrak train #184 is my mobile office as I write this column en route from Washington, D.C., to New York City. I have just left a U.S. Capital totally energized by the presence of Pope Francis.

PHILADELPHIA, PA. (CNA/EWTN News) - At the final Mass closing out the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Pope Francis warned against narrowing God's love and works to only a certain group of people.

PHILADELPHIA, PA. (CNA/EWTN News) - During his visit to a Philadelphia correctional facility this morning, Pope Francis said every person is marked and bruised by life, but Jesus washes away our sins and invites us to live a full life.

PHILADELPHIA, PA. (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis this morning met with 5 survivors of sexual abuse during his visit to Philadelphia, telling bishops afterward that the evil acts can no longer remain in silence, and promised his personal vigilance in protecting minors.

Pope Francis took the Big Apple by storm Friday with appearances at the United Nations, 9/11 Memorial and Madison Square Garden. Relive the day in our new photo gallery.

PHILADELPHIA, PA. (CNA/EWTN News) - The Church today is called to foster among young people a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for the Gospel mission, Pope Francis said on Saturday to group of priests and religious gathered in Philadelphia's cathedral.

NEW YORK CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis said Mass at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday, Sept. 25. Please find below the full text of the Holy Father's homily:

NEW YORK CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis on Friday had a brief, but urgent, reminder for the Catholics of New York City. They must proclaim the joy of God and remember to care for all those who go unnoticed in their metropolis, because they have seen the "great light" of Jesus Christ.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Sophie Cruz travelled from Los Angeles, across the United States, with her father and two uncles to try to hand a letter Pope Francis this week. Her dream came true on Wednesday when the popemobile stopped for the child, and she was given the most tender embrace of the day.

Issues of religious freedom have become a regular feature of headlines in recent years. Lawsuits have tried to protect small businesses, individuals and even a religious order from being forced to act against their religious morals. During the World Meeting of Families, one of several breakout sessions dealt with religious freedom and the family.

"Three Buffalo bishops walk into a cathedral" isn't the beginning of a joke, but it's what happened Thursday night when Pope Francis arrived in New York City. See how the Big Apple is reacting to the Holy Father in our new photo gallery.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Read the full text of Pope Francis' address to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 25, 2015, here:

NEW YORK CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - On Friday Pope Francis told members of the United Nations that there is no room for "ideological colonization" in their agenda, and stressed the need to go beyond policies to concrete solutions in caring for the poor and vulnerable, as well as the environment.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Please find below the full text of Pope Francis' Sept. 24 address to members of the United States Congress:

On Sept. 24, when Pope Francis delivered his address to a joint session of Congress during his trip to the United States, two representatives of the Diocese of Buffalo were in the room. Sister Johnice Rzadkiewicz, CSSF, director of the Response to Love Center in Buffalo, and Father James J. Maher, CM, president of Niagara University, were the invited guests of Congressman Brian Higgins. After the address, Sister Johnice provided some of her thoughts on the experience of hearing Pope Francis speak.

Father James Maher said seeing Pope Francis in Washington, D.C., in September is something he will remember for the rest of his life.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, who attended a midday prayer service at St. Matthew's Cathedral and the canonization Mass of St. Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday, talked to the media Thursday afternoon about the pope's trip so far. Bishop Malone will also participate in papal events in New York City and Philadelphia in the coming days. Here are some highlights from the bishop's media conference:

Pope Francis arrived in the United States on Tuesday afternoon, and judging by the reaction of people throughout the country, everybody's excited. See images from the first 24 hours of the pope's United States journey and how local Catholics are reacting to his visit.

Two men from Buffalo traveled to Philadelphia to learn how to raise their children in the faith. They, along with 20 others from the Diocese of Buffalo, joined a crowd of 18,000 for the World Meeting of Families.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - In his lengthy speech to the U.S. Congress on Thursday, Pope Francis said the family is being threatened today like never before, and praised American figures, including Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr., for their tireless efforts to defend freedom and values.

On Wednesday, the same day Pope Francis was in Washington, D.C., meeting with President Barack Obama and many American bishops, the World Meeting of Families was held in Philadelphia. Michael Gilhooly, assistant director of the Response to Love Center in Buffalo, attended one of the workshops held there, entitled "In the City: Concerns of the Urban Family," which addressed the concerns that plague many urban families whose members end up caught in a cycle of poverty and violence.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis made history Wednesday by performing the first-ever canonization on U.S. soil, of St. Junipero Serra.

WASHINGTON, DC (CNA/EWTN News) - In the longest speech of his trip so far, Pope Francis on Wednesday praised U.S. bishops for their commitment to defending life, their handling of the clerical abuse crisis, and their welcome of immigrants, while urging them not to be afraid to do more.